Biographical Note

Secretary-General Appoints Judy Cheng-Hopkins of Malaysia

 

Special Adviser on University for Peace

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Judy Cheng-Hopkins of Malaysia as Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the University for Peace.

The University for Peace was established as a treaty organization on 5 December 1980 pursuant to the adoption of General Assembly resolution 33/55.  Its mission is “to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations”.  The Secretary-General is the honorary president of the Council of the University.

Ms. Cheng-Hopkins will represent the Secretary-General on the Council of the University for Peace.  She will also work with the Council and the university’s academic and managerial leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive reform programme encompassing academics, administration and management. Ms. Cheng-Hopkins will maintain contact with relevant stakeholders and interested parties, on behalf of the Secretary-General.

Ms. Cheng-Hopkins was most recently Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support.  Prior to this, she was Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, the Director of the Asia Bureau and the Balkans at the World Food Programme and served United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Africa for 10 years.

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*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1196-BIO/4107-PBC/57 of 17 August 2009.

For information media • not an official record